"Jewel? Where are you?" Bill said as he wondered the halls holding a heat pack that she had asked for earlier.
"I'm in the other room Bill. Oh gosh where is that heat pack!" Bill sighed with a smile. She was pushy, but she was his little ray of sunshine, even though she isn't that little any more.
"I'm here, I'm here." Bill said as he turned the corner, rushing into the living room. As soon as he saw Jewel his signature smile spread across his face. She sat on the couch with a tank top and shorts, although the tank did not fully cover her developing stomach. Jewel absolutely hated it, but Bill thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"Oh thank goodness! What would I do without you Bill?" Jewel sighed as she reached out for the heat pack.
"No sweetie let me." Bill said as he kneeled next to the couch. He gently lifted Jewels head and placed the heat pack on her neck. "There now, do you want me to rub your neck too?"
"Oh please, you know I love your hands." Jewel purred with a sly smile. Bill gave a breathy laugh and blushed. He stood up and sat next to her and began to rub the back of her neck. Jewel sighed and relaxed against his touch. "This baby really puts a strain on me."
"I'm sorry darling." Bill relented. He was excited about the baby but he was worried that Jewel wasn't. He messaged her while Jewel sighed.
"I swear Bill, your hands are pure gold. But I think your hands should be some where els…UGG!" Jewel scrunched up hugging her midsection.
"Jewel! What's wrong? Are you ok? Are you going into labor? OH GOSH YOU ARE! I'll grab the doctor! Where's the phone! I'll…" Bill jumped up frantic.
"Bill its all right. The baby is just kicking." Jewel grunted trying to put on her best smile.
Bill sighed and slumped back down on the couch and ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes.
"Oh Bill, the baby is not due until next month, you're so jumpy. What's wrong with you?" She sat back and scooted next to Bill snuggling up into his chest. Bill opened his eyes and looked down at her and smiled. He unfolded his arms and wrapped one around Jewel's shoulder and placed his spare hand on her stomach. "I know," Jewel sighed placing her hand over Bill's "I'm huge."
"You're absolutely glowing my dear." Bill purred, bringing Jewel's hand to his lips.
"No I'm just big. How can you even stand to look at me?" Jewel whimpered. Bill looked down at her with a slight frown.
"Jewel, you are everything to me. How could you ask that? You and our baby are my world now. When I look at you, I see the most beautiful girl, no, woman I have ever had the honor to be with." Bill kissed her forehead. "I love you more and more everyday." He mumbled into her head.
Jewel let out a small laugh. "Oh Bill." She sighed laying her head down on Bill's shoulder, scooting closer to him. Bill too laughed softly and kissed her head.
"I can't wait to meet this little one." Bill said rubbing Jewel's midsection.
"I can't wait to not be so grotesque." Jewel muttered under her breath.
"Jewel can I ask you a question?" Bill continued to rub small circles on Jewels stomach. "Are you…are you happy about having a baby?" Bill stared at the ground, avoiding Jewel's eyes. "Because you know how happy I am about it but, I cant help but worry that you're not as excited as I am. I want this to be the happiest moment in our lives, a fresh new start as a family, our family."
Jewel gave a small smile and looked down at the floor. "I am excited about the baby, I'm happy I'm with you, I…just" She stopped and looked up at Bill.
"Go on its ok" Bill said quietly.
"I just…worry." Jewel continued.
"Worry?" Bill asked.
"Yes, I don't think I will suit well as a mother, and what if this baby is trapped here in Little Stempington like I am! And on top of that I'm as big as a house, how you could ever love me is a mystery." She mumbled the last sentence playing with her fingers.
"Jewel," Bill said with a laugh "your going to be an excellent mother. We are both new to this, but we have each other and we are going to take it one day at a time." Bill lifted Jewels chin so she was looking at him. "And I don't care how you look. I will always love you. But the way you look, right now with our baby, is the most beautiful you have ever been to me." Bill whispered, slowly closing the gap between them and gently kissing her lips.
Jewel smiled into the kiss and against her usual nature kissed back gently. Bill pulled away and stroked her face. "And to answer your previous question of why I was so jumpy, is well…" Bill put his hand behind his neck looking for the best way to do this.
"What is it Bill?" Jewel asked in her cute flirtatious manor.
"Jewel," Bill started grabbing both of Jewel's hands "I love you and our child," He took another hard swallow, Jewel just kept smiling and looking at Bill "a-and nothing makes me happier than knowing we are going to be a family, and I know we already discussed this but, I think this needs to happen." Bill finished looking up at Jewel.
"Bill I don't understand…" Jewel stopped, frozen, as she saw Bill get down on one knee. Jewel gasped and put her hands to her mouth and looked down into Bill's eyes.
"Jewel Diamond, I promised I would marry you and I promise that to you again." Bill reached into his back pocket and pulled out a black ring box "Jewel," He said sweetly, one hand holding hers, "will you marry me?"
Jewel stared down at Bill in complete shock. "Jewel?" Bill asked getting a bit nervous. A smile slowly crept onto jewels face and she squealed, throwing her arms around Bills neck. "I guess that's a yes then!" Bill laughed as he embraced Jewel. He stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. He pulled back to look into Jewel's eyes. "I love you Jewel Diamond."
"Please darling," Jewel said, "call me Mrs. Hazeldine."
"Well, Mrs. Hazeldine, I believe you will be needing this ring." He smiled and took Jewel's left hand. Bill slid the ring on her finger and Jewel gasped.
"Bill, it's beautiful! Wait till everyone sees!" She gloated. Bill smiled and sat back on the couch. Jewel turned to him with a sly smile and grabbed his shirt and brought his lips to hers in a very Jewel like passionate kiss. Bill gasped, but slowly got into the rhythm of it. He was used to these passionate outbursts. Bill cupped her face and pulled away slightly, so their lips lightly brushed when he spoke.
"Jewel, we can't do this now. You know what it does to me." Jewel only gave him a more mischievous smile.
"Oh believe me I know." She replied brushing her nose against his. He sighed and kissed her lips gently and pulled away. Jewel pouted, "Bill!" she whined. Bill smiled at her and leaned down and kissed her stomach.
"And one for baby too." Bill lightly laughed.
"The baby doesn't nearly appreciate it as much as I do!" Jewel pouted. Bill chuckled and kissed her belly again, slowly leaving a trail of kisses up until he reached her tank top. Bill pulled up and met her lips.
"Now don't be too greedy my darling." he mumbled into her mouth.
"I can't help but want you all to myself." Jewel cooed as she pulled away, giving him a playful look.
"You tease"
Now both were smiling madly. Jewel could not take it anymore and pulled Bill into another hungry kiss. Bill entangled his fingers into her hair and kissed her back. They continued until Bill felt a sharp punch in the side. At the same time Jewel gasped. Bill pulled away surprised.
"Not now baby!" Jewel complained.
"That was the baby?" Bill asked in astonishment "Wow." Jewel smiled at Bill.
"Quite strong huh?"
Bill nodded. "Here." Jewel said reaching for Bill's hand and placing it where the baby had kicked her. A few seconds passed by until Bill felt it. Bill gave a surprised breathy laugh shortly followed by a smile as he looked up at Jewel. This was the first time he felt his child.
"Why haven't I done this before?" Bill whispered to himself.
"Because you were too busy fussing over me and trying to get me comfortable." Jewel sighed raking her fingers through his curly locks. "Thank you Bill. For everything" Bill smiled as Jewels hand wrapped around his on her stomach.
"Look at this." Bill said in a hushed tone "The gang is all here."
"The gang, I like the sound of that." She smiled as Bill kissed the top of her head.
"Oh Jewel, I can't wait for our family." He softly said as he kissed Jewel's cheek.
"And here we all are." Jewel said looking down at their hands that still rested on her midsection. "But since our baby still isn't here yet, maybe we can get beck to what we were doing?" Jewel whispered into Bills ear. Bill laughed nervously before Jewel crashed her lips into his. It wasn't long until they were both lying on the couch, lost in their own little world.
"Jewel, we really should stop now."
"No Bill, I'm only getting started." Jewel purred. She was about to take off Bill's shirt when they heard the front door open.
"Bill?" The voice called.
"It's my mum" Bill said as he lifted himself off of Jewel. Jewel continued to lie on the couch, when Joyce walked in.
"Oh Bill, I was wondering where you were." She took a long look around, looking at both a disheveled Bill and Jewel. Joyce swallowed; she still was having a hard time with this, and was unsure on what to do.
"Um yes, I was well, um, Bill." Joyce said turning all her attention to her son. "I just got some groceries and I could use some help bringing them inside."
"Sure thing Mum." Bill laughed nervously as his mom walked back out to the car.
"I don't think your mum likes me." Jewel mumbled.
"Now how could you say that?" he said kissing her head "She still is confused about the situation, I don't think she knew how intimate our relationship was until she found out you were pregnant." Jewel nodded her head.
"I understand, my mum didn't know either, until she saw us, but I don't thinks she cares. I hope your mum will be more supportive of the baby."
"She will be." Bill whispered kissing Jewel's cheek. "My mum can be a little frazzled when it comes to change. She also is a bit over protective of me."
"Don't I know it." Jewel scoffed.
"Now don't be so snippy. You're a bit over protective of me too." Bill teased rubbing his nose to hers.
"Alright, alright. I suppose I can be a bit possessive of you. But I just don't want to lose you." Jewel whispered the last sentence.
"You wont, I promise." He whispered, lightly kissing her, as he got up to go outside and help his mom with the groceries.
Jewel sat up and looked down at her hand and smiled. She still had to get used to having that beautiful rock on her finger. As she admired it Joyce walked in from the hallway. She paused before entering, noticing that Jewel was fascinated on something. As she got closer she gasped and quickly stifled it so Jewel couldn't hear.
"Could it be?" she wondered, as she looked closer, there was no doubt in her mind that that was an engagement ring. She quickly scurried out of the room. Joyce had no idea that their relationship was so deep, that they would actually get married. She thought Jewel was, in a way, using Bill and the plan backfired with the baby, but maybe Jewel does love Bill.
Jewel froze. She heard a gasp behind her and knew it was Bill's Mum. Jewel wasn't sure if Bill wanted her to know they were getting married. She heard her shuffle out of the room and Jewel let out the breath that she didn't know she was holding.
"Alright mum. All the groceries are put away." Bill called from the door. Bill came sweeping in with his big grin on his face only for it to disappear when he saw the concern in Jewel's expression.
"Your mum knows." Jewel calmly stated.
"What? Knows what Jewel? What are you talking about?" Bill went and sat down next to her.
"About us getting married. I'm sure she saw the ring." Jewel sighed and played with the wedding band.
"And this is bad?" Bill asked with a small laugh.
"Yes! She already does not approve of us and now I'm taking her only son away!" Bill quickly scooted closer to Jewel and held her close to him.
"Shh, its ok, no matter what anyone thinks I love you. Don't be afraid that this will take me from you, because it wont." He kissed the top of Jewel's head.
Jewel looked up and a small smile appeared on her lips and she softly whispered, "I love you too." They both went in for a gentle kiss, unaware that Joyce had witnessed the whole thing and was now hiding in the hallway.
"Surely this could not be Camilla's daughter." Joyce thought to herself. All Joyce ever saw of her son's interaction with this girl had been silly and fleeting. But this side of their relationship was new to her. She had no doubt about Bill's feelings for Jewel, but she had no idea that Jewel cared for him so much. Everyone had seemed so onboard with this pregnancy at first. Maybe it was time she joined the bandwagon too.
Joyce walked out of the hallway to see Bill and jewel still in an embrace and Bill stroking Jewel's hair. Both too caught up in their own world to notice her. She was not sure on how to start showing her support, but she figured it would come gradually; she still needed time to fully accept it. Bill sighed looking up to see his mom. Joyce recoiled a bit when she was spotted and was sure Bill would say something. But Bill looked at her with hopeful eyes and a slight smile slowly crossing his features. He slowly pulled away from Jewel and walked up to his mom. Jewel, who was confused on where Bill would go, turned around to see Bill leading his mom towards her.
"I thought it was time for you to meet your grandchild." Bill whispered as he kneeled next to Jewel, putting his hand on her midsection. He motioned for his mom to do the same.